Article carrier



June 1, 1965 R. A. ENGLANDER ETAL ARTICLE CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed July 2, 1962 INVENTORS 2aazzr4. swam vase are; P (476 BY6 Arrive/75 June 1, 1965 R. A. ENGLANDER ETAL Original Filed July 2,1962 ARTICLE CARRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1965 R. AiENGLANDER ETAL3,186,587

ARTICLE CARRIER Original Filed July 2, 1962 3/6 FIG. 7

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 30 2 3 Hf All Fla. 9

INVENTORS M Zii;-;""

l BY 1,:; A 3? 2a 1 W F ATTOP/VE/J U nited States Patent 3,186,537ARTICLE CARRIER Robert A. Englander and Carl F. (Iatmlynehhurg, Va,

assignors toDaeam Corporation, Lynchhurg, Va, a corporation of Virginia.Original application'luly 2, 1962, Ser. No. 206,974.

Divided and this applimtion'May 1, 1963, Ser. No.

9 Claims. (tCl. 220-115) This application is a division of ourpreviously filed application Seriol No. 206,974 filed July 2, 1962, nowPatent No. 3,111,797, entitled Article Carrier, Method and Apparatus forErecting Same.

The present invention relates generally to the packaging ofsimilar-shapedarticles such ascans or bottles into paperboard carriersor cartons, and more particularly, to a carrier or carton adapted forsuch use. 7

Throughout the specification and drawings, and claims, the articlesbeing packaged arereferred to generally as bottles or cans. However, theprinciples of the invention may be applicable to packaging articlesother than bottles or cans. article which is generally elongated andwhich has at least one flat end upon which it can stand upright may bepackaged by the method and apparatus of the present invention. Thearticle may be cylindrical, square, rectangular or any of a variousnumber of shapes.

The most popular means of packaging bottles and cans is a carrier madefrom a single piece of material such as paperboard or the like,thecarrier being generally rectangular in shape, folded about thearticles, and having its ends secured to each other to form a tubular orsleeve type container. Sleeve-type paperboard carriers provideconvenient means for carrying small groups of cans or bottles, forexample, six, eight, or twelve, the cans or bottles being disposedwithin the carrier to prevent accidental displacement through the openends of the carrier. The reference to sleeve-type or tubular-typecarrier throughout the specification and claims is intended to coverthose carriers which wrap around a group of articles and which havetheir ends either open, closed or partially closed. If the ends of theerected carrier are closed or partially closed, then, of course, thecarrier blank will be provided with suitable panels for accomplishingthe same.

The most convenient means heretofore used for securing the ends of thecarrier whenitis erected about the articles was bygluing the end panelsto each other. However, bottles and cans containing soft drinks or beer,at the time of packagingusually have a wet exterior as they are receivedat the packaging apparatus immediatelyafter. their filling, closing, andwashing; The moisture on the exterior of the bottles or cans oftentimesprevents I the adhesive from properly setting, and thus theend panelswould pull apart under the load of the contents of the package. Even ifsuch bottles or cans are dry at the time of packaging, the carrierpackage is often refrigerated'and when removed to room temperature,condensation forms on the exterior of the bottles or cans and isabsorbed by the carrier and especially its glued joint. This lattercondition also oftentimes causes failure of the joint especially whencustomer is carrying a package. from the store. Other difficulties wereencountered in the erection of cartons utilizingadhesive for securingthe yclosures, such difliculties occurring in the erection appac we .glueless cartons or carriers,'the cartons or carriers having theirendpanels locked by purely mechanical means. In some instances, stapleshave been applied through overlapping end panels but this has provedunsatisfactory and costly from the standpoint of the necessity ofutilizing additional packaging equipment for applying the staples aswell as a difiiculty for the customers to open the cartons. Efforts werealso made to secure the end panels of the blank together by punchingtongues out of one end panel and pushing the same through openings inthe other end panel. However, such prior constructions did not proveentirely satisfactory as they could not assume the load of the articlescarried, and oftentimes it was necessary to use auxiliary securingdevices such as glue or staples.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve-typepaperboard carrier structure wherein the end panels of the carrierstructure are adapted to be overlapped and preliminarily securedtogether to prevent movement of the panels in the plane of overlap whileproviding proper tension about the articles packaged, the panels furtherbeing provided with a secondary locking means to prevent the panels fromseparating in a plane transverse to the plane of overlap.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a carrierblank arrangement having a minimum waste in manufacture, and yetprovided with a closure which is extremely durable when the carrier iserected and used, and capable of easy opening by the user.

Ancillary to the preceding object it is a further object to provide acarrier blank capable of being erected as a sleeve-type carrier about agroup of bottles or cans, the carrier blank being provided with aglueless closure which is extremely strong yet capable of being easilyopened by the consumer and reclosed if necessary.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a carriermade from a paperboard blank or the like, the carrier having a closurewhich also functions as a finger hole and thus. insures no inadvertentseparation of the closure'during transfer of the carrier with itspackaged articles. i

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carrier blankhaving a novel interlocking closure in its overlapping end panels, theclosure also providing means of separating articles from one another.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear more fully in the following specification, claims and drawings inwhich: I

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of carrier of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the carrier of FIGURE 1, lookinginto the open end of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line es, ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of the paperboard carrier P blank from which thecarrier of FIGURE 1 is erected;

FIGURE 6 isa fragmentary perspective view illustrating the interlockingof the overlapping closure panels of the improved carrier;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank for a modified form of carrierinwhich the articles packaged are cans and in which the cans areseparatedby suitable separator FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a blank for astill furthermodified form of carrier, the carrier erected from theblank of FIGURE 8 being also utilized for packaging cans; and

' FIGURE 9 illustrates the end view of a carrier made from the blank ofFIGURE 7.

The paperboard carrier vention includes an improved and novel gluelessclosure means for securing the overlapping end panels of the carrier toeach otherr 7 Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 6 inclusive, thecarrier vor carton of the present invention there illustrated is adaptedfor packaging articles such as bottles. The carrier is made from asubstantially rectangular paperboard blank provided with the score lines26 spaced apart proportionately to define thebottom panel 28, side'panels 30, and overlapping end panels 32, The end pan-v els 32 areprovided with the circular cutouts oropenings.

34 through which the necks of the bottles extend, whereas the sidepanels'30 are provided with the cutouts 33 through which a'portion ofthe base of the bottles extend.

The novel closure for the end panels 32 includesa first closure meansgenerally indicated bynthe numeral 2601 which is used to preliminarilyinterlock the overlapping portion of the end panel 232' outwardly of thescore line will be defined as a flap 268 for the purpose of this deorcarton of. the present in 4. a the, plane of overlap and, thus,'areproperly positioned for application of the second closure means 262.

The second closure means 262'is formed when the tabs 280 are pushedthrough the openingsmade by the pusha ing of the tabs 294 out of thecutouts 292. To'provide the second closure .with suificient strengthttoprevent in-t advertent opening of the package, or pulling apart of thetwo panels32 in a direction transverse to the plane of overlap, the tabs280 are made larger than the, tabs 294 and also have a generallyrectangular configuration rather, than a semi circula'rconfiguration, Byproviding the converging score lines 288 on the tabs 2%, the tabs 7maybe easily pushed through the smaller openings made which interlocksthe end a scription. Cut lines 27llare provided in the end panel 32inwardly of the flap268 and define tabs 212'extending from the flap in adirection away from the free edge 266 and towards the score 26 betweenthe particular end panel and its adjoining side panel 30. The tabs 272interrupt the scoreline-264 at longitudinally-spaced points of the same.

The outermost end'panel 32 of thet overlapping end panels 32 is alsoprovided with a second series of tabs 280 defined by cut lines 282andscore lines 284 extending transversely of, and intersecting the scoreline 264.

- The tabs 280 are each further provided with a pair of,

converging score lines 288 which start at .the ends of the score lines284 and extend toward the free edge of the tab. 7 v

Referring now to the end panel 32 which is to be the innermost end panelof the overlapping end panels 32,

a plurality of cutouts 290lare provided to define openings for receivingthe tabs 272, The cutouts 290 are by the cutouts 292 when the panels areinterlocked together. The closure defined by theclosure means 260 and262 may be opened withoutdestroying the package by a positive pullupwardly; on the flap 268; T he, score lines on the tabs 2% give the tabsufficient flexibility to be'disen tgaged by such positive action, buthave sufficient rigidity to normally hold the end panels 32 togetherwhen the package'is being transported. Since thevclosure is not,

destroyed, the customer can 're-use the carrier, by hand closing thesame if sodesired. T Y f i 7 Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 9, thecarrier blank B disclosed therein-is especially adapted for packagingcans. As' described heretoforeith 'e blankaB is provided with'novelmeans'for securing the cans to'the side panels when the blank is open.The carrier blank B is also provided with a similar first closure means260 and second closure means 262 to that described with respect tocarrier B. The first closure'means 269 is identical with that previouslydescribed with respect. to the carrier blank B, in that the outermostpanel 32 isprovided with a score line 264! parallelto its free'edge266',and a plurality of tabs 272 interruptthe same at spaced longitudinalpoints therealong. Theother end panel 32 is provided with the cutouts oropenings 2%; which in this case define separation tabs 291 in the panelswhich'are adapted to be piv- "oted downward along the scorelines293whenthe tabs 272 are inserted therein. The tabs 291 extend down between theadjacent rows of canstand separate the upper ends of two side-by-sidecans'from eachother. The bottom panel may be provided with tabs 295which can be struck out of the same and extend upwardly between the 7base ends of side-byt-side cans. The closure 262 includes I tabs 280mthe outermost of the panels 32,'the tabs suitably spaced apart and, withrespect to the tabs 272, I

'so that when the, panels are overlapped and the tabs 272 are insertedthrough the cutouts 290, thebase of the tabs engages the edges of thecutouts 290 nearest to the free edge of the panel. In addition to thecutouts 290, the intance so that they may receive the respective tabs280.

When the carrier is to be wrapped around a set of bottles or the likethe flap 268 is folded along the score line i 264 as the particular endpanel 32 is being folded with respect to its side panel 30 so that tabs272 extend out of i the plane oftthe panel 32 as the panel is beingover-lapped with respect to the other, or lowermost, panel 32. The tabs272 are extended through openings provided by the cutouts 290, and thenthe flap 268 is folded back to its original planar position so that thetabs 272 hook about the edges of the openings and draw the end panelstoward each other to provide proper tensioning of the enveloped carrierblanktabout the articles, When this has been accomplished, the endpanels 32 cannot be'moved from 28tl'being positioned outwardly of'thescore line 264 and solely. withinthefiap 268 rather than intersectingthe same score line. The tabs 280', which are larger than the openings292 provided in the other panel 32, are adapted to be received in thesame in an identical manner to-that described with the earrier'blank B.V

The carrier blank B in FIGURE 8 is substantially identical to thatdisclosedin FIGURE 7, except that the separator" tabs in the bottom:panel 28" are omitted, as well as the tabs 291 in theinnermostoverlapping panel 32?, The cutouts 290' in'this form of theinvention merely are openings. The second closure means contains tabs230 which are identically-arranged to the tabs 280 of carrier B as wellas openings 292: defined by tabs V 294'. V

I It will be noted that the shape ofthe tabs 280i in FIG- URES 7 and 8issomewhat differnt from that of the tabs 280 in the prior-figures,inthat those portions of the tabs 280' to eitherside of'the convergingscorerlines thereon have a length somewhat less than that of the overalllength of the tabs 28%, the small cuteback areas thus defined beingadapted to more securely lock the flaps 28tlin posiv tion when they havebeen pushed through the openings cutouts 36 have their tips terminatingat or adjacent the foldlines 39 for the respective end panel 36' anddefine tabs 38 which extend from the-bottom panel 23' and end panels 32'which interruptthe foldlines, Oppositely disposed pairs of tabs 38, asdefined by the pairs of crescentshapedcutouts 36, are adapted to bereceived within the chines at the opposite end of a can to retain thecan on the flat blank B as the blank is being erected into a carner.

It is thus seen that the objects and advantages ofthe present inventionhave been fully and effectively accomplished by the described carrierillustrated in the draw ings. The carrier of the present invention issusceptible to some modifications without departing from the spirit andprinciples of the invention involved. It is to hemderstood that thisinvention is useful in connection with articles of various shapes inaddition to conventional cans, bottles, etc., notably, lamp bulbs, golfballs, articles of china and plastic which have bottoms and side wallsof various curved and other contours.

Therefore, the terminology used in the specification and theillustrations in the drawings, are for the purpose of description, andnot limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. A sleeve-type carrier for a group of similar shaped articles, saidcarrier being made from a paperboard or the like blank, and havingoverlapping end panels, the

movement of the overlapping panels outwardly of each other in the planeof overlap, a second cutout in the outermost of said overlapping endpanels, said second cutout defining a second tab facing transversely ofsaid first tab, and a second cutout in said innermost panel and definingan opening for receiving said second tab, said second tab having amaximum width greater than the width of the portion of the opening intowhich it is received and which is engaged thereby, said second tabhaving converging foldlines thereon whereby it may flex as it is pushedthrough the opening.

2. A paperboard blank for forming a sleeve-type carr 6 means including afirst means defined by integrally formed portions of said panels tosecure said end panels against movement outwardly of each other in theplane of overlap and second means defined by other integrally formedportions of said panels to interlock said end panels against movementaway from each other in a direction substantially transverse to theplane of overlap, said second means including cutouts in the outermostoverlapping panel defining locking tabs foldable on axes transverse ofthe longitudinal edge of the outermost end panel, and cutouts definingopenings in the innermost panel arranged to receive said tabs, saidlocking tabs having a size greater than the size of the openings in saidinnermost panel, said locking tabs having converging fold lines thereonwherby portions of the tab can be flexed when the locking tabs arepushed through the openings in the innermost panel. 7 1 V l 4. Apaperboard blank for forming a sleeve-type carrier to package a group ofarticles, said blank having an elongated rectangular'form with aplurality of transverse score lines therein proportionately spaced apartfor defining panels to at least partially envelop articles to bepackaged, said plurality of panels including a pair of oppositelydisposed end panels of a size to partially overlap and form a compositewall of the package, one of said end panels having a fold line extendingparallel to its free edge and located Within'the overlap of the endpanels when the carrier is erected, a tab in said last-mentioned panelinterrupting the 'fold line therein and extending in a direction awayfrom the free edge thereof, a second tab in said last-mentioned endpanel extending in-a direction transverse of said first tab, the

- other of said end panels having a first opening therein adapted to beengaged by said first tab and a second opening through which said secondtab is adapted to extend and lock said panels together, said second tab7 having a maximum width greater than the Width of the portion of theopening in the other panel through which it extends and which is engagedthereby, said second tab in said last-mentioned end panel extendingacross said foldline in said panel which extends parallel to the freeedge of said panel, said second tab having a root portion upon which itfolds inwardly and having a' pair of rier to package a group ofarticles, said blank having an positely disposed end panels of a size topartially overlap and form a composite wall of the package, one of saidend panels having a fold line extending parallel to its free edge andlocated within the overlap of the end panels when the carrier iserected, a tab in said lastmentioned panel interrupting the fold linetherein and extending in a direction away from the free edge thereof, asecond tab in said last-mentioned end panel extending in a directiontransverse of said first tab, the other of said end panels having afirst opening therein adapted to be engaged by said first tab and asecond opening through which said second tab is adapted to extend andlock said panels together, said second tab having a maximum widthgreater than the width of the portion of the opening in the other panelthrough which it extends and which is engaged thereby,-said second tabin said last-mentioned end panel extending across said foldline in saidpanel which extends parallel to the free edge of said panel.

3. A sleeve-type carrier for a group of similar shaped articles, saidcarrier being made from a paperboard or the like blank and havingoverlapping end panels, means to secure said overlapping endpanels toeach other, said scorelines converging toward each other from said rootportion.

5. A paperboard blank for forming'a sleeve-type carrier to package agroup of cans having chi-nod ends, said blank having a elongatedrectangular form with a plurality of transverse score lines thereinproportionately spaced apart for defining panels to at least partiallyenvelop articles to be packaged, said plurality of panels including apair of oppositely disposed end panels of a size to partially overlapand form a composite wall of the package, one of said end panels havinga fold line extending parallel to its free edge and located within theoverlap of the end panels when the carrier is erected, a tab in saidlast-mentioned panel interrupting the fold line therein and extending ina direction away from the free edge thereof, a second tab in saidlast-mentioned end panel extending in a direction transverse of saidfirst tab, the other of said end panels having a first opening thereinadapted to be engagedby said first tab and a second opening throughwhich said second tab is adapted to extend and lock said panelstogether, said second tab having a maximum Width greater than the widthof the portion of the opening in the other panel through which itextends and which is engaged thereby, said second tab in saidlast-mentioned end panel extending across said told line in said panelwhich extends parallel to the free edge of said panel, wherein at leastone panel defined by a pair of score lines and intermediate the endpanels is provided with at least a pair of oppositely disposedcrescent-shaped openings having edge portions of different radius ofcurvatures, each crescentshaped opening having tips originating in thefold for the panel and .4 7 v the edge having the smaller radius ofcurvature defining an arcuate-shaped tab extending from the nextadjacent panel which interrupts the fold line, the arcuate-shapedv;

tabs of said pair of crescent-shaped openings opposing each otherandarranged to: engage'insidethe chinedends of a can and supporting thesame on the panel prior to the erection of the carrier blank.

6. A sleeve-type carrier for a group of cans having chined ends, saidcarrier being made form a paperboard or the like. blank andhaving'overlap-ping end panels, means to secure said over-lapping endpanels to each other,

said means including a first means defined by integrally,

formed portions of said panels to' secure said end panels againstmovement outwardly of each other in the plane of overlap and secondmeans defined by other integrally formed portions of said panels tointerlock said end panels against, movement away from each other in acan be flexed when the locking tabs are pushed throughthe openings inthe innermost panel, wherein at least one panel defined by a pair ofscore lines and, intermediate the end panels is provided with at least apair ofoppositely disposed crescent-shaped openings having edge portionsof different radius of curvatures, each' crescentshaped opening havingtips originating in the fold for the panel and the edge having thesmaller radius of curvature defining an arcuate-shaped tab extendingfrom the next adjacent panel which interrupts the fold line, thearcuateanswer shaped tabs of said pair of crescent shaped openingsopposing each other and arranged to engage inside the chined ends of acanand support the same onthe prior to the erection of the carrierblank.

7. The paperboard blank'of claim 4, wherein said root portion of saidsecond tab has a'width less than the maximumwidth of 'said second, tab.

' 8. The sleeve-type carrier of claim 1, wherein said second cutout inthe-outermostrof said overlapping end panels, and hence the, tab definedthereby, extends across said longitudinally extending foldline in saidoutermost panel. a I a 9. The paperboard blank'of claim 4, whereinsaid-root portion of saidsecond tab has a widthrless than the maximumwidth of said second tab, and wherein said second tab extends acrosssaid foldline in said last-mentioned panel which extends'parallel' tothe free edge of said panel.

References Cited by theExaininer UNITED STATES, PATENTS FRANKLIN T.GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

panel

1. A SLEEVE-TYPE CARRIER FOR A GROUP OF SIMILAR SHAPED ARTICLES, SAIDCARRIER BEING MADE FROM A PAPERBOARD FOR THE LIKE BLANK, AND HAVINGOVERLAPPING END PANELS, THE OUTERMOST OF SAID OVERLAPPING PANELS HAVINGA LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FOLD LINE, A CUTOUT IN SAID OUTERMOSTOVERLAPPING PANEL DEFINING A TAB INTERRUPTING THE LONGITUDINAL FOLD LINEAND EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF THE OUTERMOSTOVERLAPPING PANEL, A CUTOUT IN THE INNERMOST OF SAID OVERLAPPING ENDPANELS AND DEFINING AN OPENING ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SAID TAB TO PREVENTMOVEMENT OF THE OVERLAPPING PANELS OUTWARDLY OF EACH OTHER IN THE PLANEOF OVERLAP, A SECOND CUTOUT IN THE OUTERMOST OF SAID OVERLAPPING ENDPANELS, SAID SECOND CUTOUT DEFINING A SECOND TAB FACING TRANSVERSELY OFSAID FIRST TAB, AND A SECOND CUTOUT IN SAID INNERMOST PANEL AND DEFININGAN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID SECOND TAB, SAID SECOND TAB HAVING AMAXIMUM WIDTH GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE PORTION OF THE OPENING INTOWHICH IT IS RECEIVED AND WHICH IS ENGAGED THEREBY, SAID SECOND TABHAVING CONVERGING FOLDLINES THEREON WHEREBY IT MAY FLEX AS IT IS PUSHEDTHROUGH THE OPENING.